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Attachment 121853Fished the last 2 days on Beaver - we have only been fishing this lake for 5 months and the last 2 days caught some of the biggest male crappie that we have ever caught from there. Probably go 1-1 1/4 lb. My wife and I both had limits and more - sure is fun feeling that thump in skinny water.
Rl it looks like yall have figured it out on beaver. I spent last week at grenada lake and caught a male 2 lb 3 ozs. Biggest ive ever caught. I fished in my yeller kayak and wore them out. Caught 100 crappie. Biggest was 2-6 oz. those u caught looked like really nice ones.
Wow nice fish, I bet you got a few bags of fillets off those slabs.
Good feshes!
It is time!
Great job. Those are some nice males. I got a limit out there today and was able to cull a few. It was much harder than it has been though. Fished the morning instead of afternoon today so don't know if that was the difference.
I apologize if this might be a dumb question, but how in the heck can you determine sex? Now if its plum full of eggs, I might be able to figure that out, but otherwise, how do you know?
This time of year the males turn darker. We call it wearin a tux.
Gotcha. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by mb4850
As my grandpa used to say, "The only dumb question is the one you have to ask twice!!" :Rofl
Both the females and males will get darker. Has nothing to do with the sex of the fish. Has everything to do with how much sunlight is hitting the fish. They will get dark just like people tan. The males are up shallow now preparing beds for the spawn. They are getting more sunlight due to bein shallow, so they get darker. When the females move shallow to spawn they will get dark too. It is like the fishes skin is getting a tan.
In muddy water they will be pale and clear water they will be darker
No offense, but this statement is false. When the water temp hits a certain temp, usually between 58-62 degrees, the males sense that it is time for the females to spawn and a hormone is released, turning them a dark purple, almost black. This is why they are so agressive. Once the temp is right and the beds are ready, the females come in and spawn, then they quickly move back out to deeper water. They dont stick around long enough to get a "tan."Quote:
Originally Posted by grits and gravy
You are correct about sunlight effecting their color though. Typically Crappie caught out of deep or muddy water will be pale, with little coloration. While the ones that are in clear or shallow water tend to be much prettier.
X2 on that!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Cmj
Nice mess RL. Hope to see you at camp
I was just repeating what several fisheries biologists have explained to me. I have caught dark colered males in the winter in clear water. And they were no where near getting ready to spawn.
I thought it was camo to keep people from giggin them when they come up shallow.Cmj hope to see you at camp...We got things to talk about. Site C-46
Lol! Am I in trouble? Just kiddin, I will definitely be there. I am going to shoot for 12pm Friday, if all goes according to plan! I think I have C-29Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy E
Good catch